06-19-97 Christe Continues Against 'Illegitimate Education'

To the Editor:

Patent Trader readers last week read Mr. Kraemer's letter as Fox Lane High School's principal defending Respect Day by sharply criticizing me. But those readers were not privy to my earlier, unpublished remarks questioning the educational permissibility of Respect Day.

Prior to the experimental "respect and civility" activities, I filed a written request under the Freedom of Information Law seeking relevant details as to the background, qualification of the paid and unpaid speakers, how the taxpayer money was to be disbursed, what persons ,chose these speakers, if the lost ,class time would be recaptured, and ,Outlines of what was to be discussed with and elicited from the children.

My legal and legitimate requests have been brought to the attention of the school board's counsel at Mr. Kraemer's suggestion and continue to be ignored.

For the record: 1. guards blocked the ingress/egress to the campus on Respect Day; 2. district employees patrolled hallways with walkie-talkies adding to a "lock down" prison atmosphere; 3. absenteeism was almost four times the average at 31 percent for the senior class; 4. 1 carried no recording devices nor ill will. Rather, I announced my presence to the principal and asked permission to observe; and 5. the chosen presenters were "outsiders", not licensed health teachers by the New York Education Department.

Are demonstrations in the latest exercise equipment, instruction in "guided imagery," visualization techniques, religious indoctrination, the eliciting of -personal and sensitive" information from teenagers by strangers, talk of *'alternative sexuality," and Planned Parenthood pillow talk of more educational value than the regularly scheduled classes'?

The high school principal believes it is, with the board's blessings.

Mr. Kraemer takes refuge in groundless assertions concerning education that is clearly a waste of time and money. I see the day as an unjustified marketing effort by local mental health merchants risking the safety and morals of minors.

Though false, malicious, injurious accusations persist, I will continue to legitimately question illegitimate education.

Respect, after all, must esteem the truth.

Philip Christe
Mount Kisco

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